Serving 'middle Ireland': Leo Varadkar on tax break controversy, prioritising homeownership and the next election

Serving 'middle Ireland': Leo Varadkar on tax break controversy, prioritising homeownership and the next election

The coalition Government still has plenty of time to run but, if the past week is anything to go by, the remaining months could be characterised by less cooperation and more shaping up for the electoral battles to come.


On today's podcast Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan take a listen back to an interview Pat conducted with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Thursday in which a picture emerges of how Fine Gael will differentiate itself come election time.


In the interview the Taoiseach talks about a controversy over three Fine Gael junior ministers' decision to publicly call for a tax cut in the next budget, why Fine Gael supports lowering taxes for those on middle and upper incomes, why boosting the numbers of homes available to purchase is Fine Gael's housing priority, and how a decision will be made on the timing of the next general election.


Mr Varadkar spoke about other subjects - you can read the full article here.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(1007)

Will global turmoil matter to Irish politics in 2026?

Will global turmoil matter to Irish politics in 2026?

Despite global turmoil, the focus of Irish politics in 2026 is set to remain on matters close to home. Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to identify the main challenges facing the Government t...

14 Tammi 46min

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's 'psychologically needed' takeover?

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's 'psychologically needed' takeover?

US president Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland, asserting strategic and security needs but also a 'psychological need' to take over the vast, frozen island from Denmark. So how do Greenlanders t...

12 Tammi 22min

Could Coalition politics hurt Ireland’s influence in Brussels?

Could Coalition politics hurt Ireland’s influence in Brussels?

Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· The long-anticipated EU-Mercosur trade deal was provisionally approved on Friday, despite the oppositio...

9 Tammi 52min

Venezuela has “emboldened” Trump. Here’s what it means for the world

Venezuela has “emboldened” Trump. Here’s what it means for the world

After the weekend’s US airstrikes on Venezuela, and arrest of its president Nicolás Maduro by US special forces, The Irish Times’ China Correspondent Denis Staunton has been pondering what it means fo...

7 Tammi 40min

What are the chances of a border poll in the next ten years?

What are the chances of a border poll in the next ten years?

For part two of our festive ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode Hugh Linehan is joined on today’s Inside Politics podcast by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne. In this round they tackle listener...

31 Joulu 202534min

Is there any such thing as a political genius? With Helen Lewis

Is there any such thing as a political genius? With Helen Lewis

This episode was first published in July 2025. You can tell an awful lot about a society by who it labels a genius. You can also learn from who it excludes from that category, who it enables and what ...

29 Joulu 202539min

Ask us anything: presidential nominations, a Minister for Defence and the centre holding

Ask us anything: presidential nominations, a Minister for Defence and the centre holding

Hugh is joined by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne for part one of our traditional festive AMA. This year listeners asked about the presidential nomination process, the influence of p...

24 Joulu 202526min

What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI with Dr Kevin Cunningham

What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI with Dr Kevin Cunningham

Dr Kevin Cunningham of TUD is one of Ireland’s most insightful political scientists and pollsters. At the Inside Politics live show in early December he joined Hugh, Pat, Cormac and Ellen on stage at ...

22 Joulu 202520min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-pinnalla
otetaan-yhdet
rss-podme-livebox
rss-asiastudio
the-ulkopolitist
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
aihe
linda-maria
rss-pallo-keskelle-2
rss-polikulaari-pitka-kiekko-ja-muut-ts-podcastit
rss-50100-podcast
rss-girls-finish-f1rst